LONDON, Ont. — City councillors voted not to ask Joe Fontana to step down Tuesday as London's mayor amid criminal allegations he used federal money to pay for his son's wedding reception when he was a Liberal MP.

A slim majority of eight councillors voted against a motion asking Fontana to leave office due to criminal charges on Tuesday.

Fontana is accused of paying for his son's wedding reception in 2005 with a $1,700 federal government cheque when he was an MP. He's charged with breach of trust by a public officer, fraud under $5,000 and uttering forged documents.

Maintaining his innocence, he refused to step down amid the allegations.

And he has the support of the so-called Fontana 8, an eight-member voting bloc that's running London without council's other seven politicians, Coun. Dale Henderson said.

That comment drew criticism even from allies and pure outrage from political rivals.

Henderson, a stalwart Fontana backer, voted against the step-aside motion and said the focus must be on building the city — something only the Fontana 8 can do, he said.

"This is about how we run the city, who runs the city and we are doing a great job," Henderson said. "The eight are doing this and we're going to stay together."

An uncharacteristically irate Coun. Bill Armstrong ripped into Henderson, suggesting the comments were the worst he's heard in 18 years at city hall.

"I can't believe what I just heard," said Armstrong.

"You've got it all wrong. We're not relegated to the back seats. What he said ... is so out of line with democracy. What are we doing here if you're running the city?"

Several councillors, Sandy White and Stephen Orser among them, cited unclear legal concerns as a reason they were voting against the motion.

The vote was largely symbolic. Under the Municipal Act, the decision to stay in office belongs to the mayor.

Jim Barber, the city lawyer who gave politicians advice behind closed doors Tuesday afternoon, refused to clear up the confusion caused by politicians stoking fears of legal trouble.

Fontana skipped the vote, citing a potential conflict of interest.

Coun. Nancy Branscombe, who in October tabled an unsuccessful motion to debate asking Fontana to leave office, was absent.